An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced 34-year-old Stephen Adamu to death for killing his brother, David.
The judge ruled that he deliberately stabbed the victim during a domestic fight.
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 34-year-old man, Stephen Adamu, to death by hanging for killing his biological brother, David Adamu.
The convict was first arraigned before Justice Adekunle Adeleye on January 31, 2025, on a one-count charge of murder.
According to court records, the incident occurred on September 29, 2024, at Atikankan area of Ado Ekiti, where Stephen was accused of fatally stabbing his brother in the neck during a domestic dispute. The offence contravenes Section 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
During the trial, an eyewitness, Selfa Vengrim, who serves as the Chairman of the Langtan community in Plateau State, told the court that he received a distress call about a fight involving members of his community. Upon arrival, he met Stephen attacking his girlfriend, identified as Julianah, who had already been injured and taken to the hospital.
Vengrim said the deceased, David Adamu, had tried to intervene and separate the fight when Stephen pulled out a knife and stabbed him on the neck. “When he saw that his brother was gasping for breath, he attempted to flee, but we chased and caught him before handing him over to the police,” the witness said.
The prosecutor, Funmi Bello, presented six witnesses and tendered exhibits, including the defendant’s statement, an attestation form, and the knife used in the crime. The defendant, represented by his counsel, S.K. Idowu, did not call any witness in his defense.
In his judgment, Justice Adeleye held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the defendant intentionally stabbed the deceased with the intent to kill.
“The evidence before the court clearly shows that the defendant deliberately attacked his brother. I find the defendant guilty as charged,” the judge ruled.
He subsequently sentenced Stephen Adamu to death by hanging.
